While among friends, some may proclaim themselves "the life of the party," but few would point out that detail during a job interview.

In Brittany MacLeod’s case, it is as pertinent as Latin honors.

That’s because the 2009 Franklin High School graduate wants to become New South Wales, Australia’s first "Chief Funster," one of six new positions that the country’s tourism department has sought to fill through the "Best Jobs in the World" contest, which kicked off in March.

MacLeod, a 21-year-old senior at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., has earned a place on the short list with the top 25 applicants for Funster in Chief. To get there, she had to beat out 600,000 people from 196 countries.

The job description opens with, "If you’re the life of the party, always in search of the best events and coolest festivals, then why not do it for a living?"

In her role as Chief Funster, she would be based in Sydney, the country’s largest city, spending a year traveling across New South Wales to promote exclusive festivals and events via new media.

Energetic and perpetually bubbly, MacLeod believes she was fated to be a Sydney VIP.

"It would be an absolute dream," she said.

The other openings sound similarly thrilling. For instance, the "Wildlife Caretaker," who’ll work throughout South Australia, will have the chance to earn a living waking up sleeping kangaroos and swimming with dolphins and sea lions.

As if frolicking in beautiful Australia were not enough, each job comes with a $100,000 stipend.

MacLeod’s mother, Tracy, called a few months back telling her to look into the contest, having seen a piece about it air on "Good Morning America."

At the time, MacLeod said she stood at a crossroads of sorts: which way would life take her next? The contest presented a clear direction and, she hopes, the start of a career.

She first had to submit a 30-second video explaining what made her fit for one of the best jobs in the world.

"What am I going to say for 30 seconds that no one else in the world will say?" she recalled thinking.

In late March, MacLeod relied on the four years she’s studied advertising, communications and business to launch a social media campaign

"Send BMAC Down Under" — the title plays off her nickname — has spawned a Facebook page, Twitter account and blog.

"I’ve spread myself across social media," said MacLeod.

So far she’s sent out dozens of photos and videos into the interweb. In one clip, she even thanks her "Franklin peeps" for their support.

"A large part of who I am is because of how I was raised and how I grew up in Franklin, Massachusetts," MacLeod says in the video, after which several pictures taken around town of people holding "Franklin Wants You to Send BMAC Down Under" banners appear, one after another, to a popular Rusted Root tune.

Page 2 of 2 -
Next week MacLeod will learn whether she will be named one of the final three. Meantime, Tourism Australia has tasked her with finding "high profile" supporters to push for her appointment.

State Rep. Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin), who met MacLeod when she was Franklin High’s student ambassador on the School Committee, recently offered his endorsement.

In a letter to the contest search committee, Roy wrote, "She is clearly the best person in the world for this job."

MacLeod’s campaign will also serve as her senior capstone project, an idea her college professors praised.

"I have two weeks left in college, and every breath I have taken has been dedicated to this campaign," she said. "I wouldn’t’ be giving away my last moments in college if I didn’t think it was worth it."

Matt Tota can be reached at 508-634-7521 or mtota@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattTotaMDN.